Aiming to Provide a Safe and Healthy Environment for Students

Aug 10

Written By Communication & PR Department Communication

Restoration of WASH Facilities in 7 Schools in Dara’a

School WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) facilities that are not properly equipped and do not meet health and cleanliness standards the fact that puts a threat to the physical and psychological well-being of the students. Such conditions facilitate the spread of diseases among them and can negatively impact the educational process. It may lead students, especially girls, to drop out of school.

Recognizing that every child deserves to live in a safe and clean environment, and acknowledging the importance of ensuring a healthy school environment for students, the Department of Diakonia and Social Service, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria’s Office, focused on restoring the WASH facilities in seven schools in the Dara’a Province.

The rehabilitation activities included the rehabilitation of WASH infrastructure and its equipment, maintenance of the drinking water network, and installation of taps, toilets, windows, doors, tile, ceramic, electric cables, water pumps, and pipes in addition to completing the required painting activities.

The beneficiaries of the restoration work in the seven schools were 3,521 students in addition to the staff members.

Ms. Nawal Al Ahmad, The Director of Al Hurriah School in Dara’a said, "One of the big challenges we faced as staff and students was that the WASH facilities at our school were completely out of service. A sound mind in a sound body, and when children cannot use proper WASH facilities, they are unable to fully engage in their studies. This leads to a significant drop out of our students, especially girls, and greatly impacts the educational process in our school. The restoration of the WASH facilities which took place in our school has had a positive impact on the students and the staff”.

Furthermore, the Middle East Council of Churches distributed school kits to students in the schools that underwent restoration. These kits included school bags, notebooks, pencils, dry ink pens, rulers, erasers, and sharpeners.